ST JAMES’ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9840, 22 February 1893, Page 2

ST JAMES’ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEWTOWN.

The annual meeting of the members of tbs above church was held last night. The Rev Mr Shirer presided. The annual report, balance sheet, deacons’ report, report of Sunday school and balance sheet of the Sunday school were presented. The follow* ing is an outline of the annual report There had been an increase in the membership of the church. At the close of 1892 the communicants’ roll numbered 133. or nine more thau in the preceding year. During the year 23 had been received by examination and two by oertitioate. The disjunctions by removal, &a., were 16, but siaos the Ist January, 1893, six more had been added to the roll. The attendance at Sabbath worship and the celebration of the Lord's Supper bed been steady and satisfactory, the aiteadanoa at the latter ranging from 74 to 90. Tbo attendance at tho weekly services had not been nf so satisfactory a character. The weekly services at the hospital and at Berbampore bad been fairly snoeessful, aud had been much appreciated, while the minister’s Bible class was also meeting with satisfactory result*. The thanks of the ohuroh were due to the members of the ohoir for their services during tho year, special mention being made of the work done by Mr Warwick as organist. Durieg the year Mr D. Campbell bad resigned his othoe and au election resulted In Measrj John Barr aul Alexander Wilson being appointed. Lieutenant Colonel Newall had also been obliged to remove from the ohuroh owing to his official duties, but bis name still continued on the roll of membership. The management desired to specially thank the ladies of the congregation for the energy they bad displayed in connection with raising funds to pay off the oast of tbs additions and improvements to the ohuroh procerty. The ladies' sewing boe bad raised no less than £57 12s 2d in ai l of tbo manes fund, b-sides another £3O this year la aid of the extinction of the church debt. The balance sheet showed the total receipts {including £lB 18s lOd brought forward) to be £307 Ixs 31, and the expenditure £302 10s, leaving a balance to credit of £5 2s 3i. The manse account showed the total cost of building, fitting, Ac., bad been £529 8* 2J, all of which had been paid off except £250, which remained on mortgage at per cent. The receipts la connection with the Sunday school (including £9 3s 4d brought forward) were £SB 14a 61, and the expenditure £SO 15a leaving a credit balance of £8 0a 9d. In the Sunday school there were 275 scholars and 25 teachers, and tho library contained 310 hooks. The number of seatholders were 174 at th) end of 1892, an increase of 30 compared with the year preceding. Tbo meeting was considerably enlivened with some exc-llent glees, choruses and trios by membsra of the ohoir under the leadership of Mr W. Brideon, and addresses were delivered by the Revs Thomson (Lower Hutt), Thomson (Palmerston North), Evans (Waikato) and Ogg of St Andrew’s, Wellington. Refreshments were provided, and were handed round by the ladles of the choir and others.